What is Osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is the term used to describe bones when they become ‘porous’, when the struts which make up the mesh-like structure within bone start to disappear. This leads to a reduction in bone strength and an increased risk of fracture after injuries such as a low impact fall.

These broken bones or ‘fragility fractures’ can occur in different parts of the body, although the wrist, hip and spine are most commonly affected. Osteoporotic bones don’t cause any other symptoms such as pain.

Osteoporosis is thought to affect 1 in 3 women and 1 in 7 men during their lifetime. It is critical that the bone mineral density (BMD) of those at risk is measured in order to find out if you have osteoporosis or at risk of developing it.